Madison Keys has been on the WTA Tour for over 17 years and has played through many generations.
Keys signed up for a lower-level WTA 125 event in Paris, despite still being ranked inside the top 20 of the WTA rankings.
This came after she suffered an early exit at the Italian Open, and in Paris, Keys spoke to Haute Cadence, who asked the American if there were any unseeded players she is hoping to avoid at the French Open this year.
Keys, who has claimed she would boycott Grand Slams in the future, has played alongside the likes of Serena Williams in the past and she answered by commenting on the depth of women’s tennis right now.
Madison Keys claims the depth of women’s tennis is the best it has been in her entire career
Keys responded to the question about whether there were any unseeded players in particular she was hoping to avoid at the French Open, not by highlighting any players in particular, but instead by praising the depth in women’s tennis right now.
The 31-year-old claimed that the depth in women’s tennis is better than it has been throughout her entire career, despite playing alongside the likes of the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova, to name a few.
“Honestly, I think the depth of women’s tennis is probably the best that it’s ever been in my playing career and I think that you know whoever you get in the first round, you know that it’s probably going to be a very tough match and if you get through that match, the next match is just going to be harder, and so on and so on,” answered Keys.
“One singular player, I don’t think I could tell you who that person is, but I guarantee when the draw comes out, no matter who it is everyone is going to be thinking ‘Hmm, she’s really good. I’m going to have to play very good to win’.”
Keys played Serena Williams three times in her career, including in the 2016 Italian Open final, but was never able to get a win over the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
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Madison Keys says if she now feels less pressure as a Grand Slam champion
Keys won the Australian Open last year, enabling her to fulfil her potential by becoming a major champion.
The world number 19 was also asked if she now feels less pressure on tour now that she is a Grand Slam champion, to which Keys suggested was partly the case, but also explained that having other interests away from the court as well has helped.
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“I think that it is obviously something that I dreamed of since I was little, so being able to do that is such an achievement and I’m so happy to be able to do that,” said Keys. “But I also feel that I always want more, so there’s always the balance of wanting more and more.
“I do think a big part of my enjoyment on the tour has been having the podcast, and having my friends, and doing a bit more, and finding a little bit more of a balance of life on tour. So, I think that’s been the biggest thing and some of the most fun I’ve had.”
Keys will continue her bid for the WTA 125 title in Paris, before she is scheduled to play the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg ahead of the French Open.
